Lifeguards searching for answers behind Sunshine drowning

13th Mar 2015 5:08 PM
| Updated:
14th Mar 2015
6:43 AM

UPDATE

LIFEGUARDS have offered their condolences to the family of a man who drowned at Sunshine Beach on Friday afternoon.
A 55-year-old man was pulled from the surf unconscious near beach access 35, about 1km south of the Sunshine Beach lifeguard tower.
Members of the public administered first aid, before paramedics and lifeguards took over to try and save the man's life.
Lifeguards were still unclear as to what triggered the drowning, including whether the man suffered a medical condition.
Surf Lifesaving Queensland regional manager Aaron Purchase corr said it was tragic scenes as family of the man swimmer arrived on the scene.
It is unknown whether he was a local or a visitor.
"We are not sure what happened, but we are looking at whether he had a heart attack," Mr Purchase said.
"Our condolences and sympathies go out to the man's family and friends."
The man was pulled from the water in the same spot a surfer was saved from drowning just a week ago.
In similar circumstances, members of the public administered first aid on the man before lifeguards and paramedics arrived.
That was confirmed as a medical related incident in the surf.
In October a Brisbane surfer died when he drowned in a similar stretch of Sunshine Beach.
His girlfriend and up to 50 beach goers witnessed the tragic scenes 500m north of the Sunshine Beach Surf Club.

A FIFTY-five-year-old man has died after he was pulled from the water unconscious at Sunshine Beach.

Surf Life Saving Queensland Sunshine Coast regional manager Aaron Purchase said the man was dragged from the water by members of the public shortly before 4pm yesterday.

"Members of the public have pulled him to shore and the lifeguard has gone to assist, along with the ambulance," he said.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed the man had died, despite the efforts of ambulance officers who performed CPR upon arrival and attempted to revive him.

The man is believed to have been swimming near beach access 35, about 1km south of the Sunshine Beach lifeguard, in the same spot where another man was pulled from the water about a week earlier.

That man is believed to have recovered after a night in hospital

Mr Purchase said it was too early to say if this afternoon's victim had suffered a medical issue or simply got into difficulty in the surf.

He asked beachgoers to swim only at patrolled beaches to avoid tragedy.

"Our condolences to the man's family and friends. It's not something we wish on anyone," he said.

"It's really important to swim between the red and yellow flags. The lifeguards can give you advice on the best areas to swim and be on the spot if something goes wrong.